Gold Coast Writers' Association
Where writers come together to create.
Resources for Writers
A growing list of writing Competitions, Resources, Festivals, Events and Opportunities.
WRITING WORKSHOPS & EVENTS
Queensland Writers Centre presents a diverse annual Program of events, workshops and courses on the art, craft and business of writing. Hear from some of the most enlightening names in Queensland and Australian writing, improve your skills and get inspired with tools to uplift your writing and career.
For more information about Queensland Writers Centre’s Program and answers to FAQs, please visit our Program Info page.
Annual program. 2023 applications open: 13 March – 9 May 2023
Queensland Writers Centre’s national Publishable program for emerging writers is back for 2023 and calling for submissions of unpublished manuscripts across a broad range of genres and formats.
Longlisted writers take part in a personalised manuscript development program with workshops and consultation sessions, while shortlisted writers receive a 5-hour mentorship with a writing industry professional, and are given the opportunity to pitch their work to leading Australian agents and publishers. Opportunities for feedback and development are available for all applicants, including a complimentary workshop tailored to the year’s cohort of applications – all helping you progress your manuscript closer to publication.
View the application guidelines and the application form.
Applications open every month from February – November.
Writing is often compared to making a long journey. You need to keep your momentum up in order to make it to the end – one foot in front of the other, right, then left, then…
Right Left Write is run in conjunction with QWC weekly newsletter, Pen & Pixel. Each month they announce a new genre theme in Pen & Pixel (check the latest edition for this month’s prompt), then it’s over to you to create a short story of up to 500 words and right, left, write. Members can enter for free and non-members can enter for a $5 fee.
Winning entries are published on the QWC website, in the newsletter, and in a regular anthology edition!
So make Right Left Write part of your routine and get writing.
Gold Coast Libraries regularly run a great variety of writer’s workshops throughout the year. Read more…
2023 E.M. Fletcher Writing Competition. Every family has a story – write yours now! The 2023 writing competition will open on 15 February 2023. Competition closes on 15 July 2023. Read more…
The 2023 ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize is now open for entries. The Jolley Prize is worth a total of $12,500 and is for an original work of short fiction of between 2,000 and 5,000 words, written in English. Read more…
Australian literary festivals in 2023. Start planning your 2023 arts calendar with these literary festivals nationwide.
The Best Writing Contests of 2023. Writing competitions curated by Reedsy. Read more…
The Calibre Essay Prize is closed for 2023. Read More…
Manuscript Monday
Welcome to Manuscript Monday, a new initiative which is part of Pan Macmillan Australia’s manuscript submission process. If you’ve ever dreamed of getting published, and have a story you’d like to pitch, here’s your chance to have it read by a publisher. No more navigating the slush pile! On the first Monday of every month we will accept submissions between 10am and 4pm that are sent electronically and comply with the guidelines set out below.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
Commercial fiction – women’s fiction, thriller, crime, historical, humour, paranormal, fantasy; a story can have romantic elements but romance will not be assessed
Literary fiction and non-fiction – novels, short stories, and narrative non-fiction only
Children’s books and young adult – junior and middle grade fiction, young adult/crossover fiction; we are not accepting picture book submissions
Commercial non-fiction – history, memoir, mind body spirit, travel, health, diet, biography
Please familiarise yourself with what we publish at www.panmacmillan.com.au. We do not publish scripts, plays, poetry, or romance and will not assess them. Academic submissions are not accepted during Manuscript Monday. Please see www.macmillan.com.au for submission guidelines for academic publications to Macmillan Education.
First prize: £5,000
One of the largest short story prizes, the winning story features in the anthology, so you will see your words in print, maybe for the first time. That’s not all. It opens up further opportunities where your story needs to have been published. You will be invited to the awards celebration and get insightful feedback from the judges and our professional partners. Read More…
Globe Soup is a British collective whose mission is to encourage creativity inspired by the world around us!
Globe Soup offers regular free and paid competitions, resources, and courses. Read more…
40 Free Writing Contests: Legitimate Competitions With Cash Prizes. Read more…
AUSTRALIAN WRITERS’ RESOURCE – A comprehensive list of Competitions.
AJC Publishing – Manuscript Editing Services have a great list of Australia and overseas writing competitions. Read more… (This post is not an advertisement nor an endorsement of AJC Publishing.)
The Neilma Sidney Literary Travel Fund recognises the unique value of travel in the development of writing and literary careers.
Date: Wed February 1 2023 9:00 am to Fri April 14 2023 11:59 pm
With: Writers Victoria and The Myer Foundation
Applications close:
Tuesday 6 December 2022 at 3pm AEDT, for travel after 16 February 2023
Tuesday 4 April 2023 at 3pm AEST, for travel after 1 June 2023
Write for KYD – Kill Your Darlings.
Kill Your Darlings pays all contributors. Our minimum standard pay rate is $400 for an article of 1000-1500 words, and $100 for a book review of between 400-500 words. Read more…
The Tasmanian Writers’ Prize 2023
Entries close February 14, 2023
The prize is for short stories up to 3,000 words having an island, or island-resonant, theme.
The winning entry receives a cash prize of $500.
A selection of the best entries will be published in the Forty South Short Story Anthology 2023. Read more…